I'm new here and have been involved in some topics, but mostly we have been discussing strictly theological issues. I am in no way opposed to discussing theological issues, but the title of the board (Hunting and Religion) caught my eye. How is it, brothers, that hunting and religion mix for you? I know for myself, for years I struggled with hunting becoming an idol. It was all I ever thought about. However, I find the Lord growing me to the point where hunting isn't a seperate issue in life, rather hunting has become a way for me to respect, take care of, and enjoy God's creation. Although I still desire to manage and take mature healthy animals, I see it as part of creation care now and not so much "what can I get from hunting."
Another thing that I believe makes hunting and religion an interesting mix is how materialism and hunting have now mixed. It seems like there are always new gaggits, apparrel,etc. that catch my eye and I really feel the tension of having what is new and having only what I need. Pray for me as I continue to fight this.
So, how do hunting and religion mix for you? Are they two seperate things? Do you find yourself being a different, selfish person when you hunt? I know I struggled with that. The Lord bless you all.
Well brother, HNI is a hunting forum and I guess there were Christian hunters who requested a Religion Section and it was granted.
As far as being a Hunter and Christian, well I'm a Christian first and then a Hunter. AfterI was saved 40yrs ago all my hunting partners were and are Christian brothers. We always have a mini service in camp before the hunt and always kneal before the game that the Lord provided for you and thank the Lord.
Matt.18:20
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I think for me it has something to do with the deep feeling of peace I have when I am in God's woods. I feel closer to the Lord when I am out in his beautiful creation than at any other time.
I too have struggled with the material desires. However I have done this in all areas of my life, not just hunting. My wife and I think these desires are much healthier than some others that are out there.
Like Reb I am a Christian first and then a hunter. And again that is true in all areas of my life. I am a Christian husband, father, employee, etc. Christ has to be first in all areas of my life or I will not find peace in my life.
I often take a pocket Bible with me on stand. Try this. I will open the Book at sunrise and read a passage as I enjoy the beauty of a woodland sunrise. If you try that I think you will understand "Hunting and Religion".
And then no explination will be needed.
I will comment to your materialisty part first. I like quality things but not necessarily quanity. I have one deer rifle...30-30 Marlin.Until it fails me, it is all I need. I'm heavy and a little concerned of heights so I didn't go cheap on a stand ..I got a Summit.
So, how do hunting and religion mix for you?I hunt in a WMA andI consider one a pro if he even sees a deer while in a stand. So the religious aspect is trusting God toteach me how to hunt. While in the stand I read his Word. I love teh creation as well.Are they two seperate things?Yes ..the creation is not to be worshipped.It's to be enjoyed. God alone is to be worshipped.Do you find yourself being a different, selfish person when you hunt?No ....like I said ..it's a great day to see a doe , it's nearly a miracle to get off a shot. I do hunt private property one week. I make sure with the owner what he wants me to shoot. I know I struggled with that. The Lord bless you all. And God bless you too partner.
I can say that I have grown as a christian in my hunting. I resisted becoming a christian initially, because I thought christians had to give up hunting, or take it far less serious than what I considered myself......a hardcore hunter. If it flew, swam, crawled or ran, I probably hunted it. I didn't want to have to give it up.......eventually through the constant example of my wife and the encouragement of others, I obeyed the gospel. It was in November, the 16th to be exact, just before deer season in 2000. Since, I have grown to the point thatI don't want to put hunting before God. I still enjoy being in the woods, but I have a different perspective. The one thing that gives me much pleasure is an observation I made a few years ago. Nature is beautiful to me, because in it there is no sin. Think about that for a second.....no sin. The coyote catches a rabbit and eats him, it's not murder, it's nature. It's the coyote doing exactly what God created him to do. Our lives are full of sin, either our own personal failures to God, or the people around us....and it never gets any better. It's something we all have to deal with, yet when I'm hunting, for a few hours at least, I can get away from that. I often pray while waiting on game and find that in a deer stand I can gain an amount of clarity that eludes me other places. All in all, becoming a christian has helped me enjoy and appreciate hunting even more.
GH
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I love animals.......they' re delicious!
I probably am the closest to God while I'm hunting. I also carry a pocket New Testament in the woods with me and I read a chapter orso everyday while I'm on the standwhen it gets a little slow. Usually about 9am, I'll reach in my bellows pocket and pull out a couple devotional guides and my New Testament for reading and prayer. In the afternoon, I'll usually read fairly early. I usually hunt alone, but if I'm hunting with my son or some of my other hunting partners, we pray together before heading out to the stand. I pray silently on the way to the stand, while I'm on the stand, if I see one I want headed my way, and I always kneel, take my hat off, place my hand on the deer to thank God for any deer He allows me to take.
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
[image]http://www.whitetails.com/deer8.html[image]
I can say that I have grown as a christian in my hunting. I resisted becoming a christian initially, because I thought christians had to give up hunting, or take it far less serious than what I considered myself......a hardcore hunter.
GH
Gen.9:2-3
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Gen.9:2-3
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Reb, I believe that this verse shows us God's magnificent gift to us. If the point of using animals for food was the only reason God gave them to us, he would have made them all tame. By putting the fear of us in them, he gave us the gift of free chase hunting.
GH
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I love animals.......they' re delicious!
Hunting, at the root, like golfing, fishing, tennis, target shooting, football , baseball, and so on are endevours of the human flesh. While many may try and and clean them up into something Godly by offering up a prayer before they begin, or taking a pocket Bible along, it really changes nothing.
Since man was created, he has sought to justify his actions as being in line with God's plan, so it is only natural for many professing Christians to paint hunting as a Godly endevour. To a point this is correct, for hunting, and all forms of sustainance gathering are given by God to ALL men, not just Christians. So it is of God. However, most men who hunt, hunt because the flesh desires the challenge of matching wits against wild animals.
As a fellow who hunts many days a year, I can tell you that offering up a prayer, or carrying a Bible will not change the fact that my flesh drives me to hunt.
Hunting, at the root, like golfing, fishing, tennis, target shooting, football , baseball, and so on are endevours of the human flesh. While many may try and and clean them up into something Godly by offering up a prayer before they begin, or taking a pocket Bible along, it really changes nothing.
if you aren't/can't beclose with God in every step,you were never close to him to begin with
BTW i always wondered what happened to the shell answer man, now i know
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
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